Black Maternal Mortality Rates Remain Disproportionately High in Southern U.S. States, Doulas Advocate for Medicaid Reimbursement
Black women in Southern U.S. states continue to face significantly higher maternal mortality rates compared to white and Hispanic women. In Tennessee, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 116 deaths per 100,000 live births from 2021 to 2023, more than double the rate for white women and quadruple that for Hispanic women. Similarly, Alabama reported 77 pregnancy-related maternal deaths per 100,000 live births for Black women from 2020 to 2021, nearly three times the rate for white women. This disparity is attributed to systemic issues including flawed prenatal care, lack of support, and discrimination within the medical system, such as providers assuming Black women have a higher pain tolerance. In response, Black doulas and midwives are working to improve maternal health outcomes, often facing challenges in integrating into hospitals and advocating for legislative changes like Medicaid reimbursement for their services. Currently, only 26 states and Washington, D.C., allow doulas to enroll as Med...
